Wu Changlin laughed loudly, looked up to the sky, and strode out the door.
Wu Qing quickly followed, held an umbrella for Wu Changlin, and called for the young servant to pass on Wu Changlin’s orders.
...
Fengzhou, Menghe County.
Although this county was granted to Duke Menghe, Chu Yi, by Chen Mo, it still fell under the jurisdiction of Great Wei. Therefore, the government gazette distributed by the Ministry of Communication was also sent to Menghe County.
At noon, Duke Menghe, Chu Yi, was having lunch with the former Supreme Emperor of the Great Song, previously Emperor Xuanhe, his father Chu Nan, and his wife Wu Xian.
The father and son were both unfortunate brothers, as both had their empresses taken by others.
The women by their sides now were arranged by others.
"Father Emperor, Jin Xia has completely fallen this time." Chu Yi handed the government gazette to Chu Nan.
Chen Mo allowed Chu Yi and his family to enjoy the privileges of an emperor in Menghe County, and all the tax revenue from the county was kept within the Chu Family.
Chu Nan’s eyebrows shifted, and he immediately took the gazette and began to read it. After a moment, he sighed deeply, "Emperor Wei is even more formidable than the Grand Ancestor Emperor."
Upon hearing this, Chu Yi did not refute it. After all, the significant achievements of Emperor Wei now were not accomplished by the Grand Ancestor Emperor back then.
As for personal strength...
Emperor Wei is still young, and at this rate, he will eventually reach the First Grade Celestial Human Realm.
"Though I don’t want to admit it, Emperor Wei is indeed stronger than the Grand Ancestor Emperor," Chu Yi said.
Chu Nan shook his head; what he meant was not what Chu Yi understood.
Chu Yi was a puppet emperor supported by Lu Sheng.
Chu Nan had once held real power as the Emperor and knew some imperial secrets unknown to Chu Yi.
That was Jin Xia had an immortal treasure.
This was a secret passed down by each emperor of the Great Song dynasty. The Grand Ancestor Emperor did not seek reconciliation with Jin Xia because of domestic turmoil.
Rather, the Grand Ancestor Emperor was injured by Jin Xia’s immortal treasure and had no choice but to retreat.
Few knew about this matter.
And on the Great Song side, those who knew about the Grand Ancestor Emperor’s injury were silenced by him.
Later, at the end of his life, the Grand Ancestor Emperor told his successor and stated that the Great Song should not waging a large-scale campaign against Jin Xia without overwhelming strength.
Afterward, each successor of the Grand Ancestor Emperor passed this knowledge down to their successor.
This is why, despite being superior to Jin Xia for two or three hundred years, the Great Song launched no large-scale campaigns against Jin Xia, except during the Grand Ancestor Emperor’s reign.
After all, several celestial realm experts emerged in the Great Song following the Grand Ancestor Emperor.
Thus, upon learning Great Wei suddenly attacked Jin Xia, with Emperor Wei personally leading the campaign.
Chu Nan waited to witness the spectacle, hoping Emperor Wei would be killed by Jin Xia’s immortal treasure.
But the result was a great victory for Wei Army and the downfall of Jin Xia.
Even though Chu Nan did not know what Jin Xia’s immortal treasure was, the fact the Grand Ancestor Emperor had to retreat while Chen Mo emerged victorious indeed proved he was stronger than the Grand Ancestor Emperor.
At this moment, a young servant resembling a eunuch approached.
"Your Majesty, Supreme Emperor, Emperor of Da Wei requests an audience," the servant said.
There was no need for Chu Yi and the others to instruct him further.
Soon, Chen Mo arrived, accompanied by Nalan Yiren and several armored warriors.
Seeing the warriors still carrying weapons, Chu Nan and Chu Yi had no time to react, but Wu Xian stepped forward to shield Chu Yi, coldly saying, "Why are you here? Even after I abdicated the throne to you and moved here to Menghe County, do you still intend to annihilate us completely?"
"Xian... er." Chu Yi was stunned, not expecting Wu Xian, as a woman of the Wu Clan, to defend him so staunchly.
Chen Mo was also taken aback; realizing this woman was Wu Xian, he looked at Chu Yi with a touch of envy, surprised that at such a juncture, a woman would still stand by him.
As a wife, Wu Xian was undoubtedly exemplary in her loyalty to Chu Yi.
"So this is Madam Chu." Chen Mo smiled and said, "I have just returned triumphant from Jin Xia, passing through this place, and wish to ask you both about something."
Chen Mo looked toward Chu Nan and Chu Yi.
If Tuoba Zhi said Emperor Wu used the immortal treasure to severely wound the Song Taizu.
Could Song Taizu have recorded this incident to warn his descendants?
Hence, Chen Mo hoped to learn more about the "Blood God Seal" from Chu Nan and Chu Yi.
Chu Nan could guess why Chen Mo came.
Chu Yi was puzzled, wondering what matter he had that would warrant the Emperor of Da Wei personally seeking him out for advice.
However, he couldn’t refuse this kind of thing and said, "Please."
Indeed, Chu Nan knew about Jin Xia’s immortal treasure, but he only knew it was powerful, nothing more.
Thus, Chen Mo couldn’t obtain any useful information, which only confirmed Tuoba Zhi’s words to be true.
Before leaving, Chen Mo glanced at Wu Xian and told Chu Yi, "She is very good; treat her well. Do not blame her for your hatred towards me."
After saying this, Chen Mo departed.
"Father Emperor, what did he mean by that?" Chu Yi stared at Chu Nan, confused.
Chu Nan solemnly replied, "You two should have a child."
...
Outside the Meng Residence.
"I thought you not only wanted to ask about the immortal treasure but also intended to blame them. After all, had they reported this matter, we could have been prepared," Nalan Yiren paused, looking at Chen Mo.
"Ultimately, Da Wei inherited from the Great Song; some matters, once resolved, need not be pursued to the bitter end." Chen Mo shook his head, climbed into the carriage, and then turned back to Nalan Yiren, saying, "Yiren, do you want to share a carriage with me?"
Nalan Yiren glared at Chen Mo and walked towards the carriage behind.
If she really shared a carriage with him, in such a confined space, her clothes would be gone before she sat down.
Chen Mo chuckled and shook his head, boarded the carriage, lifted the window curtain, and said, "Return to the capital."
"Giddy up."
Inside the carriage, Chen Mo sat down beside Wanyan Ya and tapped her round hips, saying, "Continue."
With a seductive sparkle in her eyes, Wanyan Ya glanced at Yu Zhu, who was peeling fruit indifferently by the side; she knelt before Chen Mo, raised her hands, and reached for his belt.
...
"Ah..."
With the matter concerning Jin Xia resolved, Chen Mo could finally indulge freely.
The journey was smooth and unceasing.
By the time Chen Mo returned to the capital, it was already the end of January.
Outside Tianchuan City, the suburbs were packed with people waiting to welcome Chen Mo and Wei Army’s triumphant return.
Along the official road at the city outskirts, crowds were tightly packed.
They were unfazed by the cold, as the weather had just started to warm up.
This wasn’t organized by the court; the court merely released a hint, and the citizens spontaneously gathered.
Jin Xia had blood feuds with the Central State’s populace.
Now that the benefactor who vanquished Jin Xia returned, how could they not cheer and express gratitude?
Historian Wang Yu was there as well, and upon Chen Mo’s dragon carriage arriving at the city suburbs, he promptly began recording.
The Third Year of Zhenghe, January 30th, the Emperor victorious over Jin Xia, civilians cheered, streets emptied in celebration, prosperous era.
Upon arrival at the Imperial Palace.
Chen Mo introduced Wanyan Ya to Wu Mi and others. Wang Yu’s third sister, the female historian Wang Xiu, who recorded court chronicles, wrote.
The Third Year of Zhenghe, January 30th, the Emperor victorious, entered the palace with Jin Xia’s Queen, of the Wanyan Clan.
When Chen Mo proposed to confer Consort Ya upon Wanyan Ya.
Wang Xiu appended after the previous sentence "proposed Wanyan Clan as Consort Ya, joined the harem."
Chen Mo did not stay with Wu Mi and the others for long, nor did he return to the hall to rest, instead directly went to Yue Ruyan’s sleeping quarters.
Upon hearing from Wu Mi that Yue Ruyan had given birth to a boy, nicknamed Rong’Er, with his official name waiting for Chen Mo upon return.
Arriving, Yue Ruyan was nursing the child, which was why she did not come out to welcome him.
Seeing Chen Mo enter, Yue Ruyan’s complexion brightened, then turning red, she turned away, saying, "How could you just rush in like that? Hurry out."
Chen Mo refused, stepped forward, hugged Yue Ruyan’s slim waist, pinched the infant’s delicate face in his arms with a smile, and said, "It’s not like I haven’t seen it before. By the way, why name him Rong’Er?"